For World AIDS Day 2025, Torsten Poggenpohl, author of the book „einfach!ch schwul.bipolar.positiv.“, had a vision: a charity evening in his adopted home of Hamburg.
In 2013, the year of his diagnosis, this was one of the loneliest evenings he had ever experienced in Hamburg and in his life - he wanted to take this feeling away from others by spending an evening together.
Support from the community made the evening possible
During the planning of this event, however, he had to face the fact that he lost the funding for this evening several times.
On the contrary, he quickly asked his thousands of followers on Instagram and Facebook for support - true to the motto: „If everyone pays a euro„. - and so the money came together through smaller and larger donations.
Marcel Leo Guevara Kluxen opened the doors of his TOOM PEERSTALL exclusively on the day of rest - the „snacks“ were conjured up by Puk from the neighbouring Jolie.
Music, reading and donations for the Hamburg AIDS organisation
While Torsten read from his book, the musical singer Gerrit Hericks enchanted the audience with his voice. Hearts beat faster as the lyrics and music were perfectly harmonised.
During the interval, Torsten and Gerrit diligently sold raffle tickets to the audience - there were all sorts of prizes to be won, from charity bears from Aidshilfe to a luxury fragrance or a champagne breakfast for two in the legendary CafeGnosa.
A look into the eyes of the audience, who had come to show solidarity in the sign of the red ribbon, revealed that everyone felt they were in exactly the right place - that's as good as it gets.
The following day, Torsten was able to hand over €550 - five hundred and fifty euros - to the managing director of Hamburger Aidshilfe.
Thank you Hamburg - Together for Hope - Together. Right now.
As the organising association of Christopher Street Day in Dresden, this year we are looking back on a situation characterised by commitment and new challenges. For us, CSD is not just a date in the calendar, but a central expression of our political work and our commitment to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, inter* and queer people.
Our claim: political, visible and indispensable
For many years, the CSD in Dresden has stood for the demand for equal rights and social participation. This claim will remain in 2026. At a time when queer realities are becoming more visible, we are also experiencing that this very visibility is once again being called into question.
It is clear to us that visibility is political. It makes discrimination visible, creates spaces for dialogue and solidarity and demands change. This is exactly what CSD is for - on the streets, on stages, in conversations and by standing together.
What the new valuation means in concrete terms
Current challenges in implementation
This year, we are confronted with a change in the legal assessment of our event form. While the demonstration continues to be recognised as a political expression, this suddenly no longer applies to the rest of our programme - in particular the multi-day street festival.
The competent authority classifies this part as „predominantly entertaining“ and therefore not as an assembly. This decision not only surprised us - it also has a direct impact on our work. In concrete terms, it means that a large part of what we organise loses the legal protection that is intended for political gatherings.
What this decision means in concrete terms
What sounds technical at first has real consequences. If part of the CSD is no longer considered an assembly, it will be treated differently - legally, organisationally and financially. This means stricter regulations, additional security and infrastructure requirements and rising costs. At the same time, there is a new uncertainty in planning. For us as an association working on a voluntary basis, this is a considerable burden. Resources are limited and every additional requirement means more work for the people who make CSD possible in the first place.
At the heart of the matter is a fundamental question: What counts as political expression? Is it just the classic demonstration march - with banners, slogans and movement? Or does it also include the spaces in which people inform themselves, exchange ideas, listen, are visible and take a stand together? The CSD was never just a demonstration. It has always been a place of encounter and collective visibility. This is precisely where its political power lies. If these forms are suddenly categorised as „entertainment“, political reality is reduced.
What is at stake
A problematic separation
The current assessment follows a logic that we criticise: The march is recognised as political because it is classically demonstrative. The street party, on the other hand, is treated as something different - even though it conveys the same content. This separation seems contrived. It is based less on the actual function than on external forms. But political communication does not only take place in demonstrations. It also takes place where people come together, listen, discuss and visibly take a stand. At CSD in particular, these elements intertwine: people come for the demonstration, stay for the exchange and information and pass on the content.
The street festival is not a „supporting programme“, but a central component of the political statement. This is where conversations take place, demands are explained and people come into contact with each other.
Political impact is created through encounters
How the CSD has a concrete political impact
The CSD is not a rigid format, but a dynamic process. People come with different expectations: Some want to demonstrate, others want to inform themselves or simply be part of a community. This mixture is exactly what is wanted - and politically effective. Conversations take place on the site in which experiences of discrimination are shared, information is imparted and social issues are discussed. These conversations are a central component of political opinion-forming.
Many initiatives use the CSD to make their work visible, draw attention to grievances and mobilise support. For many visitors, this is their first contact with such issues. The stage programme also fulfils a political function. Contributions address social developments, categorise them and make them accessible to a broad audience.
Why this argument falls short
The official assessment reduces political communication to a narrow understanding of protest. However, political opinion is not only formed in clearly defined moments. It also arises where people enter into dialogue, content is communicated and perspectives become visible. Anyone who breaks down the CSD into individual elements loses sight of these connections.
Political impact is created through interaction
The various elements of the CSD interlock and reinforce each other. Political impact is not created selectively, but as a process. The CSD creates low-threshold access to political issues and reaches people who otherwise have little contact with such debates.
Diversity as a strength of political work
Political movements today are diverse. They use different forms of expression to reach people and make issues visible. This diversity is not a weakness - it is a prerequisite for successful political work. The CSD combines classic forms of protest with cultural and social elements. This creates a format that appeals to and involves different people. If this diversity is not recognised as political, political participation is restricted.
When publicity becomes a political effect
The role of the public
Another important aspect is the publicity. The CSD deliberately takes place in a public space. It is visible, accessible and open to everyone. This publicity is crucial. It ensures that issues do not remain in the private sphere, but become part of social discussion. When people attend the CSD - whether actively or as observers - they are confronted with topics that might not otherwise reach them. That is also a political effect.
The current evaluation therefore not only concerns organisational issues. It touches on the question of how political participation is organised - and which forms of it are recognised. If political forms of expression are defined too narrowly, there is a risk that important spaces will be lost. Spaces in which exchange is possible, in which people can network and in which social issues become visible. Such spaces are particularly important for marginalised groups.
Why we are taking this development seriously
We take this development seriously because it goes beyond the individual case. It affects not only CSD Dresden, but also the question of how civic engagement as a whole is evaluated. An open society needs diverse forms of political participation. It needs spaces in which people can get involved - regardless of whether they do so in traditional or new formats. This is exactly what the CSD stands for. And that is precisely why we are committed to ensuring that this form of political work is recognised as such.
Why the CSD must be protected as a political space.
Encounter as a political space
For many visitors, CSD is one of the few places where they can show themselves openly. This shared visibility is not apolitical - it is a collective expression that also has an outward effect. Encounters create community and political impact at the same time. It enables exchange, breaks down prejudices and strengthens solidarity.
Volunteering under pressure
The CSD Dresden is largely supported by voluntary work. Many people invest time and energy to make this project possible. More requirements, more costs and more uncertainty also mean more work. This commitment has its limits. If political work becomes structurally more difficult, this model comes under pressure.
Queer issues have become more visible, while at the same time hostility and counter-movements are on the rise. This is precisely why places like the CSD are important. They create visibility, connect people and make it clear that queer life is part of this society.
Why visibility is not neutral
Visibility is not neutral. For many queer people, it also means making themselves vulnerable and taking a public stance. This is a political act.
Our demands
Full legal equality for queer people
Consistent protection against discrimination and violence
Support for civil society initiatives
Recognising the entire CSD structure as a political expression
Why we continue
Why we continue
Despite all the challenges, one thing is certain for us: we will continue. CSD Dresden 2026 will take place - with a demonstration, programme and clear stance. Because visibility cannot be divided into „political“ and „non-political“.
A common mission
When these spaces become narrower, all the more attention and solidarity is needed. That is why we are inviting you: Inform yourselves, talk about it and support our work. Because in the end, it's not just about a legal judgement. It's about how visible queer life can be in the future. Right now, it is more important than ever that such spaces continue to exist and are strengthened.
CSD Dresden 2026
Dates, demo and programme
CSD Dresden 2026 invites you to take part in a demonstration, a political street festival and numerous
events promoting visibility, connection and dialogue. You can find details of many of the events and activities
directly from Christopher Street Day Dresden e.V.
CSD demo marchSaturday, 06 June 2026 - from 12:00 noonAltmarkt Dresden
I hang my helmet on the handlebars and take off my gloves. As usual, I park my motorbike in the last bay at the front. „Ziegenberg“ is my favourite car park here on the A36. Between dense forests and remote lakes, there are places here in the Harz Mountains where men meet - with a tension that only nature can conjure up. While the metropolises beckon with bars, saunas and clubs, something special draws me here, even in the cold season: furtive glances, a promise and the tingling feeling of not knowing who I'll meet next out here.
Between traffic noise and forest greenery: an atmosphere of expectation
People with very different stories: Tradesmen, commuters, younger people in sports gear, older people with curious looks on their faces. They all stop here. Spontaneously or because a familiar car is back in the car park. There is a hint of expectation in the cool air between the noise of the traffic and the shielded greenery of the small wooded area. I can almost feel someone getting out of a car that has been steamed up from the inside. A wandering gaze that lingers longer. Tension as if to cut. Contact is made, wordlessly. Some stay briefly, others linger. The minutes pass. Then a moment that feels right ...
Symbolic image for gay cruising in the forest: encounter between two men
Summer at Zankwieser Teich: when nature and eroticism merge
I think back to last summer: further up in the mountains, at Zankwieser Teich, nudists are drawn to the sun, lake and contact in the bushes. The path through the undergrowth makes me full of expectation. Rays of sunshine in the branches, footsteps as if muffled. Towels on the shore, bodies in the warm light, the occasional glance, longer than by chance. As if nature and eroticism were merging: a gentle breeze on my skin, the silence of the forest, a smile, a passing touch. Rules that everyone here seems to know. Also respect, leaving space. Until a nod calls for closeness.
Encounters at the rest area: rules, respect and responsibility
Nothing guaranteed. Encounters are open until they happen. Countless used condoms on the forest floor: dealing with risk is part of the game here. The remoteness demands attention: Always have your mobile phone with you, keep an eye on your surroundings. Knowing what I'm looking for and what I'm not. If something feels strange, I walk away. The encounters are driven by lust, embedded in responsibility. Heat knew no tomorrow.
Cruising in winter: Clear air, direct views, quiet community
Now in winter, everything draws together. The air is clearer, the views more direct. And yet: car parks like warm islands in a frosty land. That also has its charm. A cracked arse in the beam of the car headlights. The biting cold of the fresh air. The quiet but intense crunching under my boots. - This is also a silent community: men who have known each other for years, recognise each other, mostly without names, without speaking. In the shade of the fir trees, I touch strangers full of desire. Unknown and yet familiar. Wild and yet full of respect. Fulfilled, I stroll back to the motorbike. I jump over the frozen puddles through the shadows of the night. Light as a feather and yet completely grounded and with myself. Nothing is loud or glaring. I feel a depth in a quiet way that only the land knows. For me, this is only possible here.
Withdrawing from safe spaces: what right-wing populism means for queer people
AS
Axel Schock
Right-wing and right-wing populist views are not only becoming increasingly widespread in society and the public sphere, but parties that advocate such ideas are also gaining popularity. What political and social impact does this development have on the queer community?
JG
Jonathan Gregory
I am observing several reactions here. Due to the pressure that marginalised groups in particular, such as queer people, are increasingly experiencing, more and more are withdrawing from their safe spaces.
The IWWIT team travels a lot around the country, especially during the CSD season, and in the last year I have increasingly noticed through conversations on site that many queers are less and less confident about visiting community venues because they no longer seem safe to them. For example, because vandalism occurs there time and again or visitors are even afraid of being harassed or attacked.
We are also observing that queer projects are increasingly being affected by cost-cutting measures at both municipal and state level. As a result, such programmes are becoming fewer and far between and eventually disappearing altogether.
When community centres disappear: Loss of networking and participation
AS
Axel Schock
These places are not only important as meeting places and safe spaces for LGBTIQ*, but also as an anchor point for the work of IWWIT, for example.
JG
Jonathan Gregory
That's right. Queer people have long fought to no longer have to hide, but to be able to live openly and freely. But if we now lose these places, community work will also become more difficult. Of course, you can also network digitally and exchange ideas online. But it's simply different when you want to exchange ideas, get to know each other or organise in face-to-face conversations. If people withdraw again due to the political situation, they also lose access to community, such as cultural, leisure and health programmes.
AS
Axel Schock
This means that online services are becoming increasingly important. For example, to provide queer people with information on health issues.
JG
Jonathan Gregory
This brings us to another worrying socio-political development. Last year, for example, the IWWIT YouTube channel was blocked. As is well known, the owner is Google's parent company Alphabet. In Europe, too, we have become heavily dependent on US online platforms, which have their very own idea of censorship. If web content does not conform to what the US government deems to be right and important, the response is very quick with deletion and blocking. And that of course has a major impact on our prevention work, but also on the opportunities for networking.
Funding under pressure: IWWIT caught between proving its worth and political headwinds
AS
Axel Schock
How will the IWWIT campaign continue in the coming years under these changed conditions?
JG
Jonathan Gregory
Whether IWWIT will continue will be decided every five years. This is when the funding organisations, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Institute of Public Health, evaluate our work and review our concept for the future.
AS
Axel Schock
And you managed to do this despite the significant change in the political climate?
JG
Jonathan Gregory
Yes, and we are very happy that we were able to convince those responsible of the necessity and importance of our work, but also of our concept for the coming years. However, we have also noticed that IWWIT as a project and what it stands for is increasingly being scrutinised by many different stakeholders - not in a critical and constructive way, but rather in a damning and derogatory manner.
This development can also be seen at a political level, for example through small or large questions from individual parties in the Bundestag. We were worried about whether our work would continue to be funded. Other important projects, especially in the areas of health promotion, anti-racism or LGBTIQ* rights, which are dependent on public funding, have to fear for their existence. When savings have to be made, such initiatives and projects are often the first to be cancelled because they are increasingly no longer considered important and are deemed dispensable.
Cuts affect queer projects: Individual cases or system failure?
AS
Axel Schock
In some cities, such as Potsdam and Halle (Saale), the local AIDS service organisations recently had to put their school prevention projects on hold because the funding for them was not extended.
JG
Jonathan Gregory
Unfortunately, these are not isolated cases. The actual sums with which such and other projects are funded by organisations, associations and initiatives with public subsidies are often not that large, but they represent an important part of the overall funding. If this money is missing, the programmes are often completely cancelled.
If, for example, a contact café or advice centre is run on a voluntary basis, but the room rent has so far been largely financed by subsidies, such places will be lost when these funds are withdrawn. This means that many people - whether queer or those with a history of migration - will lose an important opportunity to connect and participate in social life. This is another reason why it is important that Aidshilfe remains stable - so that we don't lose these networks and all the people who would otherwise fall through the cracks. We therefore need to strengthen not only our locations and services, but also our community.
AS
Axel Schock
What contribution can IWWIT make to this?
JG
Jonathan Gregory
AIDS service organisations and IWWIT have always regarded prevention work and sexual education as political. This is because we not only stand up for people with HIV, but also for a wide range of marginalised groups. For example, for people with HIV who may lose all access to healthcare systems if the political situation worsens. We are also committed to ensuring that people who have experienced flight have access to the healthcare system at all.
We will therefore combine our prevention work with political education more than ever before. Because we realise that one is not possible without the other. We naturally like to talk about sexuality and sex, and everything that goes with it. We all want love, we want spaces where we feel safe and comfortable, and we want to be recognised and respected by society for what we are: queer people. However, all of this can no longer be taken for granted.
We don't just want to educate the community, we also want to encourage them to talk about these issues and not become invisible: Go out, meet up, join forces!
Stay digitally present - and become active yourself
AS
Axel Schock
As we have already seen, there are fewer and fewer analogue offerings of this kind.
JG
Jonathan Gregory
We have set ourselves a clear conceptual focus for the new funding period. We will endeavour to be more present than ever on the various digital platforms that we already use. More than ever, we want to get in touch with people who we cannot or no longer reach in analogue life, for example at events during the CSD season. IWWIT has therefore also launched its own TikTok channel in order to reach another, very young target group in this way.
AS
Axel Schock
And do you have any tips on what each individual can do to ensure that not only AIDS service organisations remain stable, but also our community?
JG
Jonathan Gregory
That's a good question. Activism has many facets and there are numerous ways to make a difference. You can join many others at a CSD demonstration to demand your rights and ensure visibility. You can write a letter to a member of the Bundestag or to those responsible in your city council. But every single conversation can also make a difference in your own personal environment, simply by taking a clear stance.
The important thing is to look after yourself and stay informed. It's not just about what's happening in the Bundestag or with the parties, but also about what's happening at local level, right on your doorstep. IWWIT and Deutsche Aidshilfe will continue to be a trustworthy platform where you can obtain information on specific issues.
But what is also important for me to say is that we are living in turbulent times and all the bad news can put a mental strain on us. That's why anyone who is actively involved and takes a stand can only do so if they also look after themselves and their own health and allow themselves the necessary rest and time out.
Campaign #AidshilfeBleibtStabil: Information, material and visibility
The campaign #AidshilfeStaysStable of Deutsche Aidshilfe sends a clear signal against right-wing populism, marginalisation and misanthropy. It highlights why AIDS service organisation work is important right now: for queer communities, for solidarity-based health work and for people affected by discrimination.
You can order the campaign stickers directly and use them wherever you want to make your stance visible - for example in advice centres, community spaces, at events or in everyday life. Simply click on a motif to access the respective order offer.
DAH campaign motif against exclusionDAH campaign motif for equal rightsDAH campaign motif on sexual educationDAH campaign motif for solidarity with sex workersEnglish campaign visual by Deutsche AidshilfeDAH campaign motif against right-wing populismDAH campaign motif on human rights
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For some years now, one substance has been attracting more attention from users, experts and medical institutions: Monkey Dust. Emergency services are reporting more and more interventions in connection with this drug - in Germany, particularly in Berlin and Göttingen - although monkey dust represents a comparatively small proportion of the total number of drugs consumed. Public interest has also been growing since 2023, which is reflected in an increase in internet searches.
But what exactly is Monkey Dust, how and where is it consumed, and why are even experts, who have long favoured personal responsibility on the part of users, explicitly warning against a drug for the first time? The answers to these questions are complex - but one Study by Charité Berlin and the prevention project Sidekicks, in which Monkey Dust users were asked about their consumer behaviour, now provides important information.
What is Monkey Dust?
It is not always clear among both experts and users what exactly is meant by “monkey dust”. It is a collective term for a whole range of substances from the class of synthetic cathinones, i.e. artificially produced stimulating substances, chemically related to the khat plant. These include in particular MDPV or MDPHP. Sometimes they are also called “pyros” (pyrovalerones). Other variants are α-PHP or α-PiHP, which circulate as “Alpha” or “Flex”.
Monkey Dust has a strong stimulant effect and can trigger intense euphoria, increased energy, disinhibition and increased libido. It can also be understood as a smokable, stronger and riskier variant of mephedrone and 3-MMC - similar to how crystal meth is a smokable, stronger and riskier variant of speed. It is a crystalline powder or fine powder that varies in colour from whitish to brown. Some forms are reported to smell like semen.
It is important to emphasise here that the rate of misdeclaration and contamination of monkey dust is high. Without toxicological analysis, it is often unclear whether what is sold as Monkey Dust is actually synthetic cathinones or other psychoactive substances. Due to different dosages and duration of effect, confusion is particularly dangerous.
Artistic depiction of the psychological and physical effects of Monkey Dust, including paranoia and loss of control | Photo source: Noah Elio
In what contexts is Monkey Dust consumed?
Monkey Dust is most commonly consumed - at least in Berlin - at so-called “chills”, i.e. group sex parties. It thus joins the ranks of the well-known chemsex drugs GHB/GBL, ketamine, mephedrone and crystal meth. Frequent users also mention clubs and festivals as places of consumption.
However, a remarkable proportion of the users surveyed by Charité (women, heterosexuals) do not fit the chemsex pattern. This is consistent with reports on the consumption of synthetic cathinones in milieus with homelessness and social precarity, such as the „Flex” scene in Göttingen.
How is Monkey Dust consumed?
Monkey Dust is usually smoked, but can also be sniffed, swallowed, inserted rectally or injected intravenously. However, the “freebase” version of MDPHP is not water-soluble and sticks to the mucous membranes, making it unsuitable for nasal or rectal consumption. When sniffing, it should be noted that Monkey Dust, despite its chemical relationship to mephedrone, must be dosed much lower, as it is significantly stronger.
The users surveyed in the study reported consumption levels of up to 2000 mg per session, with a mean value of 488 mg. These figures far exceed the usual dosages given by Sidekicks (5-10 mg when smoking, 10-20 mg when sniffing, 20-40 mg when swallowing). A reliable dosage is often not possible, as Monkey Dust can be present in very different concentrations and degrees of purity.
Depending on the form taken, the duration of effect is 2 to 8 hours. When smoking, however, after the initial high of 30 to 40 minutes there is a strong urge to top up. If you then top up immediately, the stimulating effect adds up, often resulting in very long sessions. In the study, users reported the duration of a typical session to be up to 72 hours, with an average of around 20 hours. Such a long session can increase the risk of unpleasant side effects. After-effects such as insomnia and increased heart rate can last for 6 to 12 hours.
How does Monkey Dust feel?
Typical effects of Monkey Dust are stimulation, desire for sex and disinhibition, but also motivation, alertness, sociability and self-confidence. Rather negative effects include a suppressed feeling of hunger and thirst, hallucinations and a strong urge to crave more.
In the study, users cited both the reinforcement of positive feelings and the suppression of negative feelings as motives. Monkey Dust triggers a euphoric state, increases sexual performance and intensifies the feelings during sex. Users report that they become “super horny” through consumption and that sex becomes more “animalistic”. Users with frequent use also stated that consumption makes them forget problems, anxiety and depression, and some also use Monkey Dust as self-medication for ADHD.
What are the side effects and long-term effects of Monkey Dust?
Common side effects of Monkey Dust include palpitations, high blood pressure, dry mouth, jaw cramps, muscle twitching, nausea, headaches, sweating, anxiety, increased aggression and erectile dysfunction. Overdoses can lead to life-threatening overheating and psychotic states. Sidekicks recommends seeking medical help immediately in the event of acute psychotic disorders.
Typical side effects when coming down are paranoia and delusions, feelings of guilt and anxiety as well as concentration and memory problems. Physical symptoms include insomnia, headaches, aching limbs and muscle cramps.
As the duration or frequency of use increases, long-term consequences such as psychosis, exhaustion, cardiovascular problems, a weakened immune system, severe weight loss, depression and social withdrawal become increasingly likely.
The study participants cited paranoia, panic or anxiety attacks, an unpleasant social environment, weeks of persistent sensory disturbances, severe weight loss, loss of reality, sexual encounters with people they did not like and sexualised violence as negative consequences.
What other substances is Monkey Dust consumed with?
Around half of the study participants stated that they usually combined smokable synthetic cathinones with other substances. GHB/GBL was most frequently used simultaneously, followed by 4-/3-MMC, crystal meth and (crack) cocaine. The main reasons given for mixed use were: Increase in sexual desire, intensification of intoxication as well as weakening of the effect, e.g. „GHB to counteract the nervous side effects”.
Sidekicks warns that mixed consumption places greater strain on the body and mind. The effects of the individual substances can be intensified, weakened or delayed. If Upper Monkey Dust is taken together with a downer (GHB/GBL or alcohol), the effects mask each other - this leads to excessive consumption. If Monkey Dust is mixed with another upper (4-/3-MMC, crystal meth, speed or cocaine), the cardiovascular system is heavily strained, which can lead to overheating and circulatory collapse.
How do I practise safer use and safer sex?
Only around a third of respondents stated that they used safer-use strategies when consuming monkey dust, such as „hygiene“, „using personal utensils“, „measuring the dosage“ or „buying from very trustworthy people“. Although this indicates a certain level of risk awareness, it also shows that the majority do not take such measures.
Sidekicks recommends the following safer-use strategies before consumption Drugchecking or the KnowDrugs-app as well as raising awareness of one's own pre-existing conditions (cardiovascular, metabolic, psychotic or schizophrenic) and strategies for dealing with cravings. When it comes to consumption itself, it is recommended to only test a small amount at first and to measure the dose precisely. If anxiety or paranoia occur, use should be stopped immediately. Overheating should be avoided by taking regular breaks during sex, getting fresh air and drinking enough. Longer breaks of at least 4 to 6 weeks are recommended after use. The use of substances to get high is not recommended, as they harbour a high potential for addiction.
The effects of Monkey Dust lead to longer and more intense sex. Safer sex practices are often forgotten and the risk of infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections increases. It is therefore recommended to clarify in advance which sex practices are wanted and which are not, and to have sufficient safer sex utensils ready. You should only consume so much that you can still clearly say what you want and what you don't want - and also recognise when others are setting boundaries. As always, regular testing for sexually transmitted infections is also recommended.
What are the interactions with HIV therapy?
There are still no clear findings on interactions between Monkey Dust and HIV medications. There are indications that certain drugs such as ritonavir could increase MDPV concentrations.
It is therefore recommended that drugs and HIV medication are always taken at different times, which can minimise possible interactions. In addition, drugs should always be taken in lower doses when taking medication at the same time. Especially during longer sessions, it is easy to forget to take medication altogether - so it is best to always have a reserve of medication with you and to always take it at the right time.
How problematic is the consumption of Monkey Dust?
In the study, 60 % of respondents with frequent use and just under 38 % with occasional use showed indications of probable problematic use. 75 % of respondents with frequent use and just under 14 % with occasional use reached a diagnostic threshold indicating probable substance dependence.
Around a third of those surveyed reported a very strong urge to come back for more (“sometimes after just ten minutes”), frequent loss of control and always or often consuming more than intended during a typical session. In contrast, around half reported only a slight or no urge to use and a third only a slight or no loss of control. This suggests that the compulsive, high-risk patterns of use reported anecdotally may not be universal.
Nevertheless, it is important to recognise risks at an early stage. The mental and physical health indicators observed in the study indicate a possible increased vulnerability in people who consume Monkey Dust. A third reported currently suffering from a mental disorder and more than a quarter tested positive for clinically relevant symptoms of depression or anxiety. These rates are higher than those of the general population.
What are the motives and strategies for reducing or quitting?
Over a third of the study participants have tried to reduce their consumption or stop altogether because they are worried about their own physical and mental health. Many feel deterred by experiences of paranoia as well as risky and transgressive behaviour: „I have seen friends become shadows of themselves within a few months.“
The following strategies were mentioned: Avoiding consumption contexts (such as deleting dating apps from mobile phones, moving away from Berlin), complete abstinence, seeking therapy or counselling services and participating in self-help groups.
Anyone interested in the path to complete abstinence can contact non-binding self-help groups such as Narcotics Anonymous or Crystal Meth Anonymous visit. This is where those affected share their experiences and help each other to lead a fulfilling life without drugs. More and more Monkey Dust users who have used in chemsex contexts are finding other sufferers at CMA in particular.
FAQ: Monkey Dust - effects, risks and consumption
What exactly is Monkey Dust, how does the drug work and why are experts increasingly warning against it? The most important questions and answers at a glance.
What is Monkey Dust?
Monkey Dust is a collective term for synthetic cathinones such as MDPV or MDPHP. These artificially produced substances have a strong stimulating effect and are chemically related to the khat plant.
How does Monkey Dust work?
The drug has a strong stimulant effect and can trigger euphoria, increased energy, disinhibition and increased libido. At the same time, side effects such as anxiety or hallucinations are also possible.
Why is Monkey Dust considered particularly dangerous?
Monkey Dust is difficult to dose and is often contaminated. The strong urge to vape and the risk of psychosis, overheating and cardiovascular problems make its consumption particularly risky.
How is Monkey Dust consumed?
The substance is usually smoked, but can also be snorted, swallowed, consumed rectally or intravenously. The effects and risks vary greatly depending on the form of consumption.
What side effects can occur?
The most common side effects include palpitations, high blood pressure, insomnia, paranoia, anxiety and aggression. In severe cases, psychosis or life-threatening conditions can occur.
Is Monkey Dust widespread in Germany?
The drug has been rather rare to date, but is gaining increasing attention. In cities such as Berlin in particular, emergency services are reporting an increasing number of call-outs in connection with monkey dust.
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Route No. 1 - Bus / Cairo (Touched by a stranger on the bus)
The bus jolts through the morning traffic. Heat, perfume, diesel, the endless honking of car horns. We stand opposite each other in the narrow aisle between the seats, squeezed between bags and elbows. His hand hangs casually near his belt, almost as if it were resting there. When the driver brakes, the back of his hand touches my crotch. It stays there. Not a bump, not a rub, but a touch that could be chance, could be art. I keep my eyes fixed on the window and pretend to count the stops. The glass throws back my reflection, illegible. Around us, the city babbles, blind and loud.
Vigilance protects me. Vigilance opens the gate.
I have learnt to walk with two heads: one for roads and timetables, one for signals. Signals like eyes that linger, a shift in weight, a fleeting touch in the dark space between bodies. You never know which is danger, which is an invitation. You only know how to stand still, how to breathe without giving anything away.
Once, years ago, I was followed home from school. Footsteps behind me, sure and steady. I turned corners to put him to the test; he turned too. Fear, then something else. The thrill of being noticed, desired, followed. Since then, I have walked with both senses alert: one for the risk, one for the opportunity.
The bus slows down near the bridge. He gets off without turning round. I wait another stop and try to calm down. My body doesn't listen to me. I hold my bag in front of me, hide my bulge and pretend to look at my mobile phone. When I finally get off, the air hits me like a secret I can't hide. I walk towards the station, the tingling under my skin still palpable.
Route no. 2 - Railway station / Cairo
The air vibrates at Ramses station. Loudspeakers scream numbers that mean nothing to me. People rush in all directions. I move with them, carried by noise and momentum. No ticket in my pocket; my destination is not written on any board.
The toilets are half-flooded, neon-lit and anonymous. I stand at the washbasin for longer than necessary and watch in the mirror as men walk past behind me. Quick glances, even quicker exits. Every room here has a secret purpose. I linger, then go out again and follow the flow to the platforms.
I walk on, past the last sign, past the guards, down the ramp where the tracks begin. The light becomes sparser. Metal, dust and the smell of engine oil. Abandoned carriages slumber in the darkness, their windows broken, their doors half open. Shapes move inside. Shadows that can be recognised by their breathing. Words lose their meaning here. A cough, a cigarette lit in the dark, a step closer: that is language enough.
A hand flits past my bag, my mobile phone disappears, then reappears in my hand before I can even think. Reflex, no courage. The real danger is not the theft. It's being seen, being called by name. We all know what the police could do if they came in now. Fear sharpens everything. The smell of sweat, the spark of touch, the hunger that pretends to be love.
Somewhere nearby, a train squeals, a sound like an angry crowd descending. I close my eyes. The vibration hums through my ribs, turning fear into rhythm. When I open them, the darkness feels wider, almost safe. I start walking again, following the tracks towards a different kind of night.
Path no. 3 - Tiergarten / Berlin (Guardian Angel of the Bushes)
We left the meeting together, the kind where you sit in a circle and talk politely about heavy topics. The sun was already setting and the sky was turning that soft Berlin purple that makes everything seem nostalgic before it's even happened. He suggested a walk, nothing dramatic, just: „Come on, I'll show you something.“ By the time we reached the zoo, the light had almost disappeared. Trees blurred into silhouettes. Paths blurred. I don't have a sense of direction yet, but I memorised the angle of the shimmering angel on the Victory Column as it cut through the dusky sky.
That will help me find the place. Every cruising venue needs a guardian angel. He spoke Arabic, the way people do when they assume you need the comfort of that language. We weren't close, didn't even know each other, but he led the way like someone who is used to leading the way. „This place saved me,“ he said. „I met my German husband here.“ He pointed to a group of trees as if it were a historical site. „Right there. That's where it all started.“ He didn't sound sentimental, but matter-of-fact, as if the park had given him exactly what he had asked for.
As we went deeper, men floated back and forth between the branches, appearing and disappearing again as if they belonged to the darkness. One stepped forward, stared straight at me and said: „How much?“ Bluntly, languidly, confidently. I froze. My companion sighed, annoyed for me. „Ignore him,“ he said. „Some people think they can judge you with a look.“
He showed me the places where men were waiting, the little circles of flattened grass, the paths that meandered and led back again, even if you could swear you were going straight ahead. It was an initiation. A simple way of saying: you too can belong here.
When we finally reached the edge of the park, he glanced at his watch and said he had to go. No phone numbers were exchanged. It wasn't necessary. Nevertheless, something had changed. For the first time since my arrival, Berlin no longer felt impossible to navigate.
Encounter between two people in an intimate embrace. | Photo source: Sven Serkis
Way No. 4 - lab.oratory / Berlin - Sexclub/West Germany: How I become a number and a compliment
The lab.oratory is located in a corner of Berlin that nobody reaches by chance. You don't pass it on the way to another destination. You go there because you want to, because a certain kind of night demands it. I avoided it for years. I reckoned with grabby hands. I expected to feel like I was lying on an examination table being scrutinised. But one evening I finally turned the corner. Alone. With less adrenaline and more anticipation. This isn't a park, and nothing was for free.
We paid to cross the threshold. We handed our clothes to a man who threw them into thin plastic bags that looked like rubbish. A number was written on my arm in thick black ink, crude and temporary. I felt marked, catalogued, briefly placed in a cycle whose rules I didn't quite understand. Rules never kissed me. But breaking them gave me a thrill.
The lighting was dark red, blurring contours and making eyes glow. Somewhere techno was blaring. I wondered why no one was dancing; instead, men were moving in slow circles, drifting back and forth between the rooms, scrutinising each doorway like a checkpoint. Glances flashed and disappeared. Some flitted past me as if I wasn't part of their equation. Others lingered too long, weighing me up, categorising me and trying to fit me into a category they knew.
One man smiled and said, „Nice and hairy.“ Here's a compliment. A small, harmless thing. Where I come from, hairiness never meant charm. It meant ordinary, expected. Here it meant masculine, and masculine, when read on someone like me, carried its own mythology. Virile. Strong. Rough around the edges. I didn't correct him. I let the compliment stand. I realised that hair is my erotic capital in Berlin.
I stayed longer than planned. Two-for-one drinks softened the edges, softened the calculations, made the circuits feel warmer. The Lab didn't embrace me, but it didn't exclude me either. It was a world built on movement, loops, glances, transactions. For one night, I let myself in.
Moment of connection between two people | Photo source: Sven Serkis
Route No. 5 - Hasenheide / Berlin
The Hasenheide has always made sense to me. Perhaps because roaming around here is not a destination, but a way of getting around. A way of paying attention. I walk through the main gate and let my feet choose the direction. The paths branch out, narrow, disappear and then widen again, as if offering opportunities that the city denies elsewhere. I breathe deeper here. They say cruising is anonymous, but it's also meditative. The senses are sharpened. Every rustle, every shift in weight, every pause behind a tree becomes a small question. A possibility. The park teaches you to read without words. It is one of the few places where desire follows no rules. No profile texts, no filters, no categories. Just bodies that discover each other by chance, out of curiosity, out of instinct. It feels almost anarchic. Desire, open, redistributed, without licence.
During the pandemic, these paths became dance floors overnight. Music hidden in rucksacks, strangers swaying in the dark, the city pretending not to notice. While the clubs remained closed, the queers kept moving, inventing joy in the undergrowth. The newspapers called it a danger to the public. Moral panic blossomed faster than spring grass. But the police never understood that we weren't breaking any order. We were building a new one.
On this grey day, I see a figure standing half in the shade, half in the light. A nod. A pause. We move towards each other as if we had done this before in another life. No questions, no names. Just warmth, breath, pressure, my heart beating against his ribs. The orgasm comes quietly, like a leaf sliding down a branch. We slowly pull away from each other. He smiles, gently. I whisper „Goodbye“. He whispers it back.
Every lover was just passing through. Each passage left behind a seed.
I walk on until the trees thin out and the city returns. My breathing slows down. My body feels lighter, not because something has happened, but because it could have happened. Cruising is not just sex. It's entering a place where desire doesn't apologise. A place where you move differently, think differently, breathe differently. I step out of the gate with that rhythm still inside me.
English original
This article is a translation from English into German.
The original English version can be found in the IWWIT Cruising Guide.
I hang my helmet on the handlebars and take off my gloves. As usual, I park my motorbike in the last bay at the front. „Ziegenberg“ is my favourite car park here on the A36. Between dense forests and secluded lakes, there are places for rest area cruising here in the Harz Mountains where men meet - with an excitement that only nature can conjure up.
While the metropolises beckon with bars, saunas and clubs, something special draws me here, even in the cold season: furtive glances, a promise, and the tingling feeling of not knowing who I'll meet next out here.
Encounters at the side of the road
People with very different stories: Tradesmen, commuters, younger people in sports gear, older people with curious looks on their faces. They all stop here. Spontaneously or because a familiar car is back in the car park.
There is a hint of expectation in the cool air between the noise of the traffic and the shielded greenery of the small wooded area. I can almost feel someone getting out of a car that has been steamed up from the inside. A wandering gaze that lingers longer. Tension as if to cut. Contact is made, wordlessly. Some stay briefly, others linger.
The minutes pass. Then a moment that feels right ...
Cruising rest area between lake, forest and silent signals
I think back to last summer: further up in the mountains, at Zankwieser Teich, nudists are drawn to the sun, lake and contact in the bushes. The path through the undergrowth makes me full of expectation. Rays of sunshine in the branches, footsteps as if muffled. Towels on the shore, bodies in the warm light, the occasional glance, longer than by chance.
As if nature and eroticism were flowing into one another: a gentle breeze on your skin, the silence of the forest, a smile, a touch as you pass by. Rules that everyone here seems to know. Also respect, leaving space. Until a nod calls for closeness. Nothing is guaranteed. Encounters are open until they happen.
Secluded path as a cruising location in the countryside | Photo source: Sven Serkis
Three men in an intimate cruising scene in the woods | Photo source: Sven Serkis
Rest area cruising between pleasure, risk and responsibility
Countless used condoms on the forest floor: dealing with risk is part of the game here. The remoteness demands attention: Always have your mobile phone with you, keep an eye on your surroundings. Knowing what I'm looking for and what I'm not. If something feels strange, I walk away.
The encounters driven by lust, embedded in responsibility. Heat knew no tomorrow.
Cruising rest area in winter light
Now in winter, everything draws together. The air is clearer, the views more direct. And yet: car parks like warm islands in a frosty land. That also has its charm. A cracked arse in the beam of the car headlights. The biting cold of the fresh air. The quiet but intense crunching under my boots.
- This is also a silent community: men who have known each other for years, recognise each other, usually without names, without speaking.
In the shade of the fir trees, I touch strangers full of lust. Unknown and yet familiar. Wild and yet full of respect.
I stroll back to the motorbike, fulfilled. I jump over the frozen puddles through the shadows of the night. Light as a feather and yet completely grounded and with myself. Nothing is loud or glaring. I feel a depth in a quiet way that only the land knows. For me, this is only possible here.
From the Cruising Guide
This article was taken from the IWWIT Cruising Guide
The text is the Cruising Guide Taken from IWWIT. There you’ll find further
information, perspectives and advice on the subject of cruising.
Read moreCruising at IWWITInformation, background and the complete guide as PDF
A monkey emoji in a dating profile seems harmless. But in the gay dating scene, it now often stands for Monkey Dust - a barely researched, highly potent substance that appears primarily in the context of chemsex.
In a very personal text Jeff Mannes in the magazine VICTORY COLUMN, how he is confronted with it for the first time on a date. The encounter begins in a familiar way: chat, attraction, sex.
But then something changes. A strange smell, an uneasy feeling - and the realisation that his counterpart has been secretly consuming Monkey Dust. The break is not the consumption itself, but the silence about it.
What follows is not a sermon on morality, but a reflection on boundaries, responsibility and a lack of knowledge. Months later, the author learns that the man has died. Too young. Too suddenly. Monkey Dust is said to have played a role in the death - but it has not been conclusively clarified.
What is Monkey Dust? Effects, risks and lack of research
Monkey Dust is not a clearly defined substance. It is usually a very strong synthetic cathinone that works quickly and can get out of control just as quickly. People report intense pleasure, euphoria and disinhibition - but also anxiety, paranoia, loss of control and waking phases lasting for days. There are hardly any scientifically proven findings. This is precisely what makes the substance so treacherous.
The text shows: Monkey Dust is talked about a lot in the queer community - but often behind closed doors. Out of fear of stigma. Out of insecurity. Out of a lack of education. But exactly the opposite is needed: honest conversations, knowledge, transparency and solidarity. Not to condemn - but to make risks visible and minimise damage.
You can read the full original article by Jeff Mannes in SIEGESSÄULE:
If there is no clarification, Monkey Dust becomes unpredictable
What makes Monkey Dust particularly dangerous is not only its powerful effect, but above all the lack of knowledge about it. Counselling centres such as Sidekicks.Berlin report that the substance can quickly lead to a loss of control - over quantity, duration and personal limits. People tell of intense periods of wakefulness, anxiety, paranoia and massive mental crises. At the same time, there is little certainty about what happens in the body in the long term. Reliable studies are still almost completely lacking.
In addition, there is a further risk Drug checking in Berlin Monkey Dust has been detected in samples sold as other substances. This means that people can consume a drug without realising it. This makes unwanted effects, overdoses and dangerous interactions more likely.
Despite this, Monkey Dust is often only spoken about quietly in the queer community. For fear of stigmatisation, out of insecurity or because experiences are difficult to categorise. Projects such as Sidekicks.Berlin or Checkpoint BLN therefore rely on education rather than condemnation. An accepting, non-moralising attitude is crucial - without ignoring the real risks.
Honest dialogue, transparent information and supportive solidarity can protect lives. Because as long as knowledge is lacking and consumption remains invisible, monkey dust remains a substance that is difficult to assess - and that is precisely what makes it so dangerous.
Monkey Dust: Frequently asked questions and answers
Monkey Dust is increasingly appearing in the context of chemsex, but has hardly been researched and is difficult to assess. Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about effects, risks and why education is so important.
What exactly is Monkey Dust?
Monkey Dust is not a clearly defined substance. It is usually a very strong synthetic cathinone that acts quickly and is associated with high risk. Composition and dosage can vary greatly.
Why is Monkey Dust considered particularly dangerous?
The substance often has an unpredictable effect. People report loss of control, anxiety, paranoia, insomnia lasting several days and psychological crises. Reliable scientific findings are still largely lacking.
What role does Monkey Dust play in the chemsex context?
Monkey Dust is sometimes consumed as part of chemsex to increase desire, disinhibition or stamina. It becomes particularly risky when consumption is not openly communicated or several substances are combined.
Why is a lack of education a big problem?
Lack of knowledge about the effects, dosage and risks increases the risk of overdoses and serious side effects. In addition, Monkey Dust was sometimes found in samples that were sold as other substances - consumption can therefore also happen unintentionally.
How can you reduce risks when dealing with Monkey Dust?
Open dialogue, honest agreements and sound information are key. An accepting, non-judgemental attitude helps to make risks visible and support people at an early stage.
The § Section 175 of the German Criminal Code was over 123 years of law in Germany (from 1871/1872 to 10 June 1994). He represented Sexual acts between men are a criminal offence and thus enabled the state persecution of gay and bisexual men.
In the vernacular, men who were persecuted or sentenced under this law were often called „175s“ after the paragraph that criminalised their love.
Why was Paragraph 175 created?
When the German Reich came into being in 1871, it adopted a criminal provision from older legal systems that was known as the „unnatural fornication“ between men was defined. The state thus treated consensual homosexual relations as a crime.
Such regulations existed in many European countries at the time - they were an expression of the widespread idea that same-sex love was „unnatural“ or „immoral“.
Historical overview of paragraph 175
Timeline
Key milestones at a glance.
1949-1969
Federal Republic of Germany
The stricter Nazi version of the law remained in force. Consensual sex between men remained a criminal offence. Tens of thousands of investigations and convictions.
1969
First reform
Partial decriminalisation in the Federal Republic of Germany. Exemption from criminal liability only from the age of 21. Legal inequality continues.
1973
Further relaxation of paragraph 175
The age of consent was lowered to 18. This brought it into line with the age limits for heterosexual relationships. Section 175 nevertheless remained in force.
1994
Final abolition of paragraph 175
Repeal of Section 175 of the Criminal Code. The end of a special criminal provision that has been in force for over 120 years.
from 2002
Reappraisal and rehabilitation
The legal rehabilitation of those convicted began. Recognition of state injustice. The memory remains part of queer history.
1871
Introduction of paragraph 175
Introduction with the Criminal Code of the German Reich.
„Unnatural fornication“ between men became a punishable offence.
Homosexual men were officially regarded as offenders.
1871-1918
Empire
Section 175 remained unchanged.
Criminal prosecution was part of the state's moral and regulatory policy.
Demands for reform remained without effect.
1918-1933
Weimar Republic
Section 175 remained in place despite social liberalisation.
Several attempts at reform failed.
Activists demanded its abolition, without success.
1935-1945
National socialism and aggravation
Massive tightening of § 175 under the Nazi regime.
Criminal liability was extended to all „lewd“ acts between men.
Arrests, prison sentences and deportations to concentration camps.
Labelling those affected with the pink angle.
1945-1949
Post-war period
Section 175 remained in force.
The NS tightening was not cancelled.
Persecution of homosexual men continued.
1950s-1968
Development in the GDR
Section 175 was hardly ever applied in the 1950s.
1968 Extensive deletion from criminal law.
Only sexual acts with young people remained regulated.
1949-1969
Federal Republic of Germany
The tightened NS version remained in place.
Consensual sex between men remained a punishable offence.
Tens of thousands of investigations and convictions.
1969
First reform
Partial decriminalisation in the FRG.
Impunity only from the age of 21.
Continued unequal treatment under the law.
1973
Further relaxation of paragraph 175
Lowering the age of consent to 18.
Approaching heterosexual age limits.
§ Section 175 nevertheless remained in place.
1994
Final abolition of paragraph 175
Deletion of § 175 from the penal code.
End of a special criminal offence that has existed for over 120 years.
from 2002
Reappraisal and rehabilitation
Legal rehabilitation of the convicted began.
Recognition of state injustice.
Memory remains part of queer history.
Social and cultural significance
§ 175 was not only a legal law, but central expression of social homophobia in Germany over many generations.
It had a massive impact on the lives and freedom of gay men: from discrimination and stigmatisation to imprisonment and persecution.
The term „175“ and the long fight against this standard are therefore not only for legal oppression, but also for the protracted political and social struggle recognition, visibility and human rights of homosexual people in Germany.
Frequently asked questions about paragraph 175
Paragraph 175 is one of the darkest chapters in German legal history. Here we answer key questions about the law, its application and its significance to this day.
What was Paragraph 175?
Paragraph 175 was a section of the German penal code that criminalised sexual acts between men. It was in force from 1871 to 1994 and criminalised homosexual men for more than a century.
Why was Paragraph 175 introduced?
Paragraph 175 was introduced in the German Reich in 1871. It was based on the moral and social ideas of the time, which regarded same-sex love as „unnatural“ or „immoral“.
How was Paragraph 175 applied under National Socialism?
Under the Nazi regime, Paragraph 175 was massively tightened in 1935. Criminal liability was extended so that even the slightest offence could be prosecuted. Tens of thousands of men were arrested, sentenced or deported to concentration camps.
Did Paragraph 175 continue to apply after 1945?
Yes, after the end of National Socialism, Paragraph 175 initially remained in force in both German states. While it was later largely abolished in the GDR, even the stricter Nazi version continued to apply in the Federal Republic of Germany for a long time.
Were the victims rehabilitated?
The legal rehabilitation of men convicted under Paragraph 175 did not begin until 2002, meaning that the injustice they suffered was recognised very late.
Why is Paragraph 175 still relevant today?
Paragraph 175 symbolises state discrimination and persecution of queer people. Its history shows how laws can violate human rights - and why legal equality and remembrance are so important.
